Routine exercise benefits the mind and body for all ages

Butch Comegys / Staff photographer
Zumba instructor Allan Souza of Dunmore leads his class during a tough workout at Uno Fitness in Scranton. Mr. Souza, who lost 110 pounds, shares his love of working out during each of his 11 classes throughout the week. Above right, Kristen Butler of Newfoundland stretches during a hot yoga class at Steamtown Hot Yoga.

Many factors contribute to the obesity problem in both children and adults, and a lack of physical fitness is chief among them.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, regular physical activity not only improves overall health and fitness but also can reduce an individual's risk for many chronic diseases.

But this isn't exactly shocking news. For decades, Americans have obsessed over exercising, from the heyday of calisthenics in the 1950s, to aerobic fever in the '80s, to a culture that today is always looking for the hottest, trendiest way to burn calories.

In Northeast Pennsylvania, there's no shortage of ways or places where men, women and even kids can have daily workouts. Covering an array of interests, capabilities and targeted results, the choices are almost limitless.

Thomas Casey, owner and head trainer at CrossFit Scranton, represents one type of approach to physical fitness.

"CrossFit works because everyone who walks in works hard," Mr. Casey said. The workouts are a balance of everything, he added, without actually specializing in any one area to give a more well-rounded routine.

CrossFit first emerged 10 years ago, he said, and it's stuck around through other fads because everyone is considered an athlete the day they walk in the door. His clients range from grandmothers to professional athletes to paraplegics and people who weigh more than 400 pounds. Unique among many other gyms, though, is the inclusion of children in the CrossFit program.

Julie Maloney of Scranton takes her 8-year-old daughter, Madison, to CrossFit Kids each week, in addition to the girl's other activities like basketball, softball and gymnastics.

Mrs. Maloney has been pleased with the results she sees in Madison, who has had pulmonary issues since she was a little girl.

"Strengthening her lungs is important, and this helps her be fit enough to excel at the other activities," Mrs. Maloney said. "I think it's important for kids to be active, and they teach them the right way to do things, which carries over into every aspect of their life, along with being smarter and fitter."

Joan Robinson, a physical education teacher at Frances Willard Elementary School with more than 30 years of teaching experience, agrees.

"Many children go home and just sit and watch TV," Mrs. Robinson said. "The more they move, research shows they do better on testing.

"We don't want to all be smart and overweight. It all goes hand in hand," she continued. "We want healthy bodies with healthy minds, so we try to encourage them to get enough exercise."

In her classes, Mrs. Robinson has tried to foster a love for fitness among students by including different programs, such as ballroom dancing and a mile walking club, while incorporating nutrition and proper eating in all activities. Physical education is an important keystone to a child's development, Mrs. Robinson added.

"It's the whole person when you teach a child: social, emotional, academic and physical," she said. "(They) become more disciplined and learn time management."

Discipline is perhaps the hardest part of staying physically fit for most, as it takes regular work to keep in shape.

Toning up

Lara Rubin Alexiou, owner of Steamtown Hot Yoga and a practicing yogi for 11 years (nine of which she spent teaching), understands this concept as well as anyone, and she insists yoga in particular is meant to be a lifelong practice.

At her studio, where the temperature is kept at a sweltering 105 degrees F, Ms. Alexiou has seen firsthand the benefits of repeat attendance in her clients.

"When you're involved in something like yoga, there's a strong sense of personal responsibility, a feeling that you can do something yourself to feel better and look better," she said. "I have a lot of students that come in and say 'I'm trying to avoid surgery,' whether it's for their knees or back, and often they find it does help.

"They are in control of themselves, not at the mercy of someone," Ms. Alexiou explained. "They get good self-awareness of their health and bodies."

While hot yoga may not be for everyone, Ms. Alexiou noted that with so many variations, there is likely a type of yoga out there that works for each person.

"The beauty of yoga is it really accepts you in any condition you're in, and you can start at any point here," she said. "This is an all-inclusive activity. It's a full-body aerobic workout. It really affects the interior, from the endocrine system to the glands.

"You tone up, but you're also going to find your metabolism changes, you sleep better and are calmer," Ms. Alexious continued. "Your whole system reacts in a positive way, so you still get benefit even if you're not giving one-hundred percent, but I think people are becoming more proactive about their wellness."

Allan Souza certainly has since losing more than 100 pounds himself before becoming a certified Zumba instructor at Uno Fitness in Scranton. The 27-year-old said he just woke up one day about five years ago wanting to make a change, and spent the next 14 months whittling away his physique.

Now, he tries to share his love of working out and losing weight with the 40 to 60 students who attend each of his 11 classes throughout the week.

For his Zumba Extreme class, Mr. Souza listens to music and comes up with dances with which he leads classes.

"It's simple steps that make the whole body move," he explained of the workout set to about 13 songs per class, during which attendees can burn upward of 800 to 1,000 calories. "Zumba is mostly targeted for people who have rhythm and can enjoy dancing, but from the moment you walk in to the moment you leave, it really gives you the most results you're looking for."

In addition, Mr. Souza also teaches an exercise he calls Brazilian Fit, which scorches 900 to 1,200 calories he said, and targets every part of the body.

"It's a high-impact class. It's so intense," he said. "It's cardio, punching, getting up and down."

But for anyone who questions whether it gets results, Mr. Souza offers himself up as the example.

In 2008, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention set forth Physical Activity Guidelines that call for adults to have at least 2.5 hours of physical activity per week.

48 percent

Portion of U.S. adults who meet the guidelines

52.1 percent

Portion of men who meet guidelines

42.6 percent

Portion of women who meet guidelines

22.8 percent

Portion of non-Hispanic white adults who meet guidelines

17.3 percent

Portion of non-Hispanic black adults who meet guidelines

14.4 percent

Portion of Hispanic adults who meet

guidelines

60

Minimum number of minutes of physical activity children ages 6 to 17 years should engage in every day

Fewer than 3 in 10

Number of high school students who get at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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